Submission of Briefs Policy

Requested by AALL Special Interest Sections Or Other Member Entities

Approved November 2004, Board Meeting, Tab 13

1.0 By Board policy, no one may speak for the Association except as authorized. Those specifically authorized to speak for the Association include the President, the Executive Director, the Government Relations Office Director and his/her Associate, and the Copyright Committee. Other Committees or Representatives may speak for the Association if their charges so state.

2.0 If a Special Interest Section or other member entity wishes to file a brief in a court proceeding on behalf of the Association, a request to do so should be made in writing to the President, the Executive Director, or the Government Relations Office Director. On copyright-related matters, the request may be submitted to the Chair of the Copyright Committee. The request should outline the facts of the case, the nature of the issue at stake, why the issue is important to AALL, the due date for the submission of the brief, and whether or not known counsel is available to prepare the brief and at what cost.

2.1 Once received, the matter will be referred to the Government Relations Office Director for an assessment of (a) how this issue/ brief fits into the Association's mission and other public policy initiatives, (b) the logistics of preparing a brief, and (c) the cost of preparing a brief.

2.2 If the proposed brief is on matters that are part of AALL's regular public policy work, and if sufficient resources are available in the Government Affairs Fund, the preparation of the brief may be approved by the Government Relations Office Director.

3.0 If the proposed brief is on a new issue or on matters not normally a part of AALL's public policy agenda, the Government Relations Office Director, after conducting his/her review, will make a recommendation to the President and the Executive Director. After conferring on the matter, the President, the Executive Director, and the Government Relations Office Director will make a decision on whether or not to proceed with the brief.

3.1 If money is needed for the preparation of the brief beyond what is available in the Government Affairs Fund, a recommendation will be made to the full Executive Board for approval of additional funds.

4.0 The preparation of the brief and its final submission to the court will be supervised and approved by the Government Relations Office Director.